Weekend Review: D’oh Gea gives Hammers hope in crazy Coronation weekend

It was a weekend befitting a King in the Premier League as goals galore and shock results made it a tough tussle between the bookies and the punters.

Before the floodgates opened on bank holiday Monday, West Ham were resolute and professional as the Hammers won 1-0 at London Stadium against a lacklustre Manchester United.

David de Gea inexplicably let Saïd Benrahma’s daisy cutter bobble into the back of the net to give West Ham the lead, and the home side should have had a penalty after a seemingly obvious handball from Victor Lindelöf.

West Ham had the ball in the back of the net a further two times but saw both efforts chalked off, as David Moyes’ side weathered the storm to all but secure Premier League football next season.

Elsewhere, Manchester City staved off a potential late fightback from Leeds United to win 2-1 and strengthen their grip on the title. A blank for Erling Haaland and the one-goal margin was music to the layers’ ears. A routine 2-0 win for Arsenal up at Newcastle was also positive for the book.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth said: “Last week I was having a moan about the Premier League goals tap being turned on so we headed into the final three games of the Premier League coupon in decent nick after four 1-0s, with the result at West Ham being by far and away our best.

“City winning by a single goal and Arsenal’s professional 2-0 victory on Tyneside were also decent results,” he added.

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill also confirmed the Hammers made for the firm’s best result of the weekend as they head into the Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins commented: “Plenty of good judges strongly fancied Newcastle, who were backed accordingly, but it was Arsenal who won a titanic clash at St James’ Park.

“West Ham did us a favour on Sunday, beating Manchester United, and surely secured their Premier League spot for next term. We have them 7/4 joint-favs to win the Europa Conference League.”

Monday saw the tables turn as 21 goals in just three games left the bookies with a bloody nose.

Leicester City’s relegation fears heightened after a poor performance saw Dean Smith’s side smashed 5-3 by a Fulham team who are surely on the beach already.

Everton then proceeded to rip up the form book as they smashed Brighton 5-1 on the south coast in a Sean Dyche masterclass before a topsy-turvy battle between Nottingham Forest and Southampton all but relegated the Saints after they fell to a 4-3 defeat by the Trent.

Gill said: “Elsewhere in the Premier League, an absolute goal fest on bank holiday Monday was very punter-friendly. Forest’s 4-3 win over Southampton and Fulham’s 5-3 win over Leicester being particular kind to punters’ pockets.”

Freeth lamented: “The smile was wiped off our faces in last three matches with a mammoth 21 goals being scored, crowning the Coronation weekend for goals punters as we suffered a right royal hammering.

“Over goals, team goals, additional goals, first half goals. Everywhere you look, goals. Just one of those days where you have to accept it and move on.”

Elsewhere, in horseracing, Frankie Dettori won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in his final season before retirement as he rode Chaldean to victory.

The Italian managed to take the 7/2 second favourite to the win, a length-and-three-quarters ahead of the heavily priced 125/1 shot Hi Royal in second.

Royal Scotsman in third (11/1) place and Galeron in fourth (150/1) made it pretty even between the layers and backers, after favourite Auguste Rodin (13/8) disappointed with a 12th place finish.

Kindred Group’s Gill said: “It was Guineas weekend at Newmarket as it starts to feel like the flat season is really kicking in to gear.

“Chaldean grabbed himself some salvation after his Newbury unseat to win the 2,000 Guineas in good fashion. Very well backed on the day, he went off 7/2, with favourite 13/8 Augustine Rodin very disappointing and some monster prices filling the places. Overall the race was pretty much a draw between layers and backers.”

Betfred’s Firkins conceded that the firm “lost plenty” thanks to the “Frankie factor” but there was joy in the 1,000 Guineas for the duo.

Oisin Murphy rode 9/1 shot Mawj to victory as the fourth favourite allowed the bookies to claw back. Firkins said it was a “good result” for the book after Murphy managed to hold off the 6/4 favourite Tahiyra in a tight finish.